About the Opportunity
About the Role
The Associate Director of Academic Operations provides high-level leadership and operational oversight for the College of Engineering's graduate academic portfolio, which includes 45 graduate programs across six departments and multiple global campuses. This role ensures the seamless execution of all graduate academic operations, governance, curriculum management, accreditation support, and regulatory compliance.
The Associate Director serves as a key liaison between the College of Engineering, the Office of the Provost, the Registrar, the Graduate Council, and other university stakeholders. This position oversees the full lifecycle of graduate programs and course governance through the CourseLeaf curriculum management system, ensuring that proposals progress efficiently, meet university standards, and align with college and institutional objectives. The role also leads the management and annual maintenance of the graduate academic catalog, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with college and university policies. This position supports accreditation efforts for all graduate programs and provides critical coordination and documentation for state and provincial licensure submissions. In addition, the Associate Director supports the development and launch of new online and on-ground graduate programs, playing a central role in planning, communication, and operational readiness.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
1. Graduate Program and Catalog Oversight
Provide leadership for the review, update, and maintenance of all College of Engineering graduate program pages in the academic catalog
Ensure curricular, policy, and accreditation-related updates are accurate, timely, and aligned with university standards
2. Curriculum and Course Governance
Oversee and manage all graduate course and program proposals through the CourseLeaf system
Monitor workflow, resolve issues, ensure policy compliance, and communicate feedback to departments and academic units
3. Graduate Affairs Committee Administration
Coordinate all activities for the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC), including scheduling, agenda development, meeting preparation, communication, and minute drafting
Ensure committee actions are documented and routed appropriately
4. Assessment and Accreditation Support
Lead coordination of assessment efforts across graduate programs and partner with departments to ensure timely submission of assessment materials
Support accreditation processes and collaborate with the Provost's Office on requirements related to state and provincial licensure
5. Program Development and Launch Support
Provide operational support for the development and rollout of new on-ground and online graduate programs
Coordinate readiness activities, ensure documentation accuracy, and facilitate communication among academic and administrative stakeholders
6. Program Performance and Data Analytics
Access and analyze program performance data including enrollment figures, course offerings, and external market trends
Provide insights to support the continuous improvement of graduate programs
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree in higher education administration, business, or a related field preferred
3–5 years of professional experience in an academic or administrative higher education environment required
Knowledge of academic governance, curriculum management, and university academic policies
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex workflows simultaneously
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and central administrative offices
Documents Required
Resume
Cover Letter
Position Type
Academic AdministrationAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
109SExpected Hiring Range:
$67,855.00 - $95,845.00With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in higher education administration, business, or a related field
- 3-5 years of professional experience in an academic or administrative higher education environment
- Knowledge of academic governance, curriculum management, and university academic policies
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and central administrative offices
Northeastern University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northeastern University and has not been reviewed or approved by Northeastern University.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is described as extensive, including 22–26 vacation days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and paid parental leave for birth/adoption. Additional paid leave is also outlined, including up to 26 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible employees.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with an employer contribution described as 10% when an employee contributes 5%, alongside immediate vesting once eligible. This is presented as unusually generous relative to typical employer retirement offerings.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are emphasized through tuition assistance for employees and dependents and access to backup childcare and family-care resources. Tuition remission/discount structures are highlighted as a major value driver, especially for employees with children and for long-tenured staff.
Northeastern University Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively
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